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'IBUKI' Chosen as Nickname of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT)

October 15, 2008 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
National Institute for Environmental Studies
Ministry of the Environment

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Institute for Environment Studies, and the Ministry of the Environment selected the following name as a nickname for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) scheduled to be launched this coming winter launch season. The three organizations had asked the general public between July 10 (Thu) and Sept. 10 (Thu,) 2008, to become a godparent of the GOSAT, in order for more people to feel familiar with the satellite. Many people proposed nicknames and we have chosen one as follows.


1. Selection result: The chosen nickname is "IBUKI" meaning "breath" or "puff."

2. Reason for selection

  • "IBUKI" accounted for a very high percentage of the proposed names, thus it means it is supported by many people.
  • Many people sited the reason for proposing "IBUKI" is that the GOSAT is a satellite to observe carbon dioxide, which is the Earth's puff (breath,) and that precisely explains the GOSAT mission.
  • People also feel "vigor" and a "bright future" from the word "IBUKI."

3. Received applications: Total: 12,683 (Among them, effective applications were 11,719)
(Breakdown)  
Internet 5,552
Post card 729
Application form     6,402

4. Proposed names: 3,789 (630 people proposed "IBUKI.")


(Reference 1)
Concerning the prize trip to Tanegashima to watch the "IBUKI" launch, please look at the following page at the JAXA website for details.
Space Applications Mission Directorate, Satellite Navigator
URL : http://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/project/gosat/news/nameresult.html

(Reference 2) Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI"
For our worldwide effort to further address global warming problems, it is essential to learn more about the behavior of greenhouse gases that cause global warming on Earth. The "IBUKI" scheduled to be launched this Japan fiscal year is the first satellite in the world to measure greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) from space. Data to be acquired by the IBUKI will tell us the "current" status of global warming on Earth, and will be used for our "future."